Element Continues Advancing on Industry-First Mandate That All Properties Pursue LEED Certification
With a Silver LEED certification announced today, Element Denver Park Meadows will become just the second LEED-certified hotel in Colorado.
Element is the eco-chic boutique brand from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) that made history by becoming the first major hotel brand to mandate that all its properties pursue the US Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for high-performance buildings. Designed to be "green from the ground up," Element hotels blend nature-inspired smart design, inspiring public spaces, and comfortable modern touches.
"We know that Element guests value the fact that Element hotels are environmentally conscious and we're excited that we've met the very high standards for the Silver LEED designation," said Bradley Preston, General Manager of Element Denver Park Meadows. "At the same time, we realize the certification is really the beginning of a process, and we're looking forward to continually improving our efforts around conservation and waste reduction."
Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President of Specialty Select Brands for Starwood, agreed. "Element has always been about enhancing the guest experience through green actions, so the Silver LEED certification is gratifying for us," he said. "We're eager to continue finding new ways to use resources responsibly at Element Denver Park Meadows and all of our properties." Colorado's other LEED-certified hotel is another Starwood property, the Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa in Avon.
On Denver's outskirts, Element Denver Park Meadows is located close to the Denver Tech Center and the area's top "retail resort." The nearby light rail line whisks guests into downtown for easy access to downtown businesses, shopping, dining and more. The top-rated hotel in its area according to Tripadvisor, Element Lone Tree earned raves like "Fabulous!", "Great Hotel", and "Hidden Gem" from reviewers.
In October, Element is set to debut in New York City with the opening of Element Times Square West.
Starwood itself recently revealed plans to significantly reduce energy and water consumption at every one of its 1,000 hotels within a decade. Starwood will aim for a 30 percent reduction in energy use per available room by 2020; the company will also work toward a 20 percent decrease in water consumption per available room by 2020. The initiative builds on a long-standing commitment to conservation and sustainable operations at Starwood. Element's LEED initiatives helped lay the groundwork for Starwood's own sustainability program.
Element:Green from the Ground Up
From spacious guest rooms featuring fully equipped kitchens, spa-inspired bathrooms, and the Westin Heavenly Bed® to sustainable design and eco-friendly practices, Element Hotels is the smarter place to stay perfect for the traveler visiting for a few days or a few weeks.
Element hotels' green features are cleverly designed to be as aesthetically appealing as they are eco-friendly, so guests never compromise on style and comfort. Eco-friendly materials are used whenever possible and natural light is maximized throughout the hotels. Element conserves water and energy with low-flow faucets and fixtures, compact florescent light bulbs and energy-efficient appliances. To further reduce waste, guest room bathrooms are equipped with amenity dispensers, kitchens are supplied with silverware and glassware instead of plastic utensils and paper cups, and filtered drinking water is available rather than plastic water bottles among other initiatives. Recycling bins are available in guest rooms and public areas. Even the ubiquitous "Do Not Disturb" sign has been replaced with an environmentally-friendly magnet.
Most recently, Element Hotels installed electric car charging stations at all its currently open properties to contribute to the development of the infrastructure needed in anticipation of the number of electric vehicles expected to be on the market over the next several years.
Element Hotels, like all brands within Starwood's portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest® program, which offers a breakthrough policy of no blackout dates on Free Night Awards. To learn more, please visit www.spg.com.
About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1000 properties in nearly 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element SM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
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